A lesson for Massachusetts Democrats from this one nutjob in Texas

[derby378]

No, not me - there was this guy who lived somewhere near San Antonio named Gene Kelly. He was a retired Air Force officer and attorney who turned into a political gadfly during his retirement years. Kelly ran as a conservative populist Democrat for statewide office numerous times, occasionally forcing more qualified candidates into costly runoffs because so many uninformed voters cast their ballots for Kelly in the primary based on his name alone:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-genekelly_02tex.ART.State.Edition1.46364af.html

He never went on campaign tours through Texas. He might have maintained a website, but I don't know for sure. His GOTV activities were virtually nil, his position statements few and far between. But the votes just kept on coming in for him year after year through 2008.

Martha Coakley is the Attorney General for Massachusetts, and she has some experience in her background that would have made her a favorable candidate for the US Senate. However, she didn't have a celebrity name. Perhaps if her name was Sheryl Crow, Hayden Panettiere, Taylor Swift, or even Grace Kelly, she could have gotten by with fewer campaign stops and speeches. But that is not the case.

There are no "safe" seats, because each seat is supposed to be the property of the US citizen, and there are no lifetime appointments. But if you're good enough as a Senator, you might get unlimited options for renewal. If.

Many Democrats are probably wishing they'll never hear Martha Coakley's name again. But if she still wants any hope of continuing what the Kennedys helped put in motion, she needs to take the next two years and think really hard about how hard she's willing to work for a seat in the Senate chamber.

My two cents...

[Hello_Kitty]

1. Our State Treasurer here in AZ is named Dean Martin.

Swear to god, his campaign signs said "Same Name. Different Song." :puke: He's a typical know-nothing Republican but he's got a serious shot at the Governor's office.

[derby378]

2. Like the fella once said, ain't that a kick in the head?

Sorry, couldn't resist. I feel for you. :hug:

[slampoet]

4. Reminds me of the guy named Rick James whose signs were altered to say ....

...."I'm Rick James bitch!" by Chapelle Show fans.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

3. Texas has had several politicians with famous names.

We had two state treasurers named Jesse James and Warren G. Harding.

We also had two guys named Yarborough and Yarbrough running for the same judgeship which was thoroughly confusing.

[slampoet]

5. Don't forget Senator Paul Simon. (though he was from Illinois)

PS - When SNL did a skit about him he was played by none other than Al Franken.